1. SWORD OF ARTILLERY OFFICER Dutch, Late XVII Century
Hilt steel originally blackened, chiseled mainly in high relief with soldiers and battles in semi-classical manner. On guard fifty-odd figures are represented in cavalry engagement. Technical treatment includes in some cases entire undercutting of legs of horses and arms of riders; on the other hand, hilt side of guard, with similar figures, is chiseled in flat relief. A seventeenth-century costume is pictured on ricasso. At junction of ricasso and guard are half mascarons; sculptured dogs' heads appear at various points; from their mouths spring pas d'âne and knuckle guard, quillon, even mounted figures (on knuckle guard); arrangement and perspective of these figures is extraordinarily adapted to the narrow metal. Grip round, untapered, of basket-woven bands of parallel silver wire, the surface compressed by a single worming of twisted wire.

Blade narrow, two-edged, ovoid, becoming hexagonal in basal portion, which is deeply grooved. Inscription: right, INRI MARIA; left, AHIES MURIO. On left is marked off a scale of divisions, largest near tip, for measuring the caliber of mortars (?).
26.145.268

L. 108 (91) Wt. 574

Plate I Reubell Benefaction

2. DRESS AND "PILLOW" SWORD Dutch (?), Late XVII Century
Hilt blackened steel carved in high relief as in No. 1. Guard, blade side, represents (high relief) the storming of a town and a combat of mounted warriors. Pas d'âne of plain steel. Round, nearly untapered grip of wire: (a) two strands plain, (b) twisted, (c) wire-wound, (d) braided, (e) same as (c). Pommel spherical, showing fighting horsemen as on guard.
Blade double-edged, flattened ovoid; forte with three parallel grooves (both sides) perforated with groups of five small holes staggered.
26.145.270 L. 97.5 (81)

Wt. 559

Plate II Reubell Benefaction

(page 12)

3. DRESS SWORD French, Late XVII Century
Hilt somewhat smaller than that of No. r, but guard larger and irregular in outline. The carving on blade side of guard, also in slightly lower relief, represents opposed mounted figures in classical style in border framed with mermen. Ricasso with mounted figures; at junction of quillon and knuckle guard dogs' heads as on No. 1. Quillon as mounted figure carved in the round. Pits (lane recurved as fish tails, but still functional. Grip of dull silver wire alternately four strands of fine twisted wire and two of coarse twisted wire, each with an addi tiona strand of highly twisted silver wire wrapped around it.

Blade double-edged, with median flattening in basal region only, on which is a short arabesque incised and partially filled with latten between three parallel grooves.

14.25.1216 L. 91 (75) Wt. 487.5

Bibliography: Thoumas, Exposition retrospective militaire en 1889, vol. I, p. 64, fig.

Plate III Riggs Benefaction

4. DRESS AND "PILLOW" SWORD Dutch, Late XVII Century
Hilt and scabbard mountings of silver sculptured en suite with combats of warriors, mounted and on foot. Guard with relief much bolder on side of blade. pas d'âne plain with in- and up-curving ends which interfere with use. Straight quillons with bulbous ends carved with warriors. Grip of silver wire: (a) narrow flat tinsel strip, (b) (c) (d) fine twisted wire, (e) fine braided wire, (f) coarse braided wire, (g) same as (e), (h) (i) (j) (k) same as (b) (c) (d). Pommel somewhat flattened.

Blade two-edged, ovoid, slight median flattening ; forte single-grooved with inscription INRI MARIA. Scabbard of calfskin over wood; hook suspension; ferrule with lower edge as pendent leaves, inscribed: PENTERMAN LEUWARDEN.

26.145.266 L. 97 (80.5) Wt. 551.5

Plate IV Reubell Benefaction

This and the following number may be described as "in the English style," showing at this time close relationships with, the Dutch.

5. MILITARY SWORD English, Blade Dated 1674, Hilt 1689
Hilt of silver ornamented sparingly with clusters of petals in low relief on guard, ricasso, quillon, pommel, and knuckle guard. The last is notably long and straight with sharp bends. Grip nearly round, bound with silver wire: (a) two strands oppositely twisted large plain wire, (b) eight strands fine twisted wire, (c) single strand medium twisted wire, (d) same as (b). On left inner lobe of guard four marks: G S in shield, an unknown maker's mark which is (page 13) recorded in 1688; leopard's head and lion, London assay stamps; London date stamp 1689. On left knuckle guard partially effaced traces of the same marks. On pommel lion only and mark of maker.

Blade broad, double-edged, lozenge-shaped; inscribed: left, TOHMMAS BÖNTGEN PRO CHRISTO ET PATTRTA, with bishop's head between initials T B; right, TOHMMAS BÖNTGEN ANNO DOMMI 1674, with same head and initials.

26.145.346 L. 96.5 (79) Wt. 588

Provenance : Purchased at Cambridge during Mr. Reubell's student days (he took his degree about 1875); he began his collection of swords auspiciously, for this William and Mary sword is of rarest quality.

Plate V Reubell Benefaction

6. DRESS SWORD English, 1690
Hilt silvered metal. Guard and pommel ajouré with late Renaissance traceries of monsters and flowers; borders carved in low relief with mascaron and leaf motifs. Guard asymmetrical. Ricasso carved in low relief with scroll and flowers. Acanthus motifs in relief at quillon tip, junctions of quillon, knuckle guard and pas d'âne, mid-region of knuckle guard - parts otherwise plain. Grip of silver wire: (a) two strands oppositely twisted coarse wire, (b) nine strands alternately twisted fine wire, (c) one strand twisted medium wire, (d) eight strands similar to (b).

Blade two-edged, diamond in section; forte with median flattening, which is replaced distally on each side by a deep groove bearing perforations; basal portion of forte ornamented with groups of longitudinal parallel lines, between which on flattened mid-part inlay in brass.

26.145.347 L. 95 (8o) Wt. 464

Plate V Reubell Benefaction